Softball drops pair of games to visiting Union

The Oswego State softball team nearly snapped a five-game losing streak on Wednesday, but Union College capped off a two-game sweep of the Lakers with a 6-5 victory in extra innings in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Laker Field.

The Lakers dropped Game 1 to Union, 6-0.

Union jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after the first three innings of Game 1 on six hits. Union’s Carson Mehl scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch from sophomore Sarah Thayer.

The Dutchwomen increased their lead to two after Nina Cervini drove in Callee Heywood from second base with a two-out single. Thayer struck out Alicia Jones to end the inning.

Union (12-20 overall) took control of the game in the third inning, as the first three batters reached base safely. Rachel Noall singled to right field and advanced to second on a passed ball. Mehl singled on a bunt to move Noall to third. Mehl stole second and advanced to third on a single by Lauren Hoffman. Noall scored on the play. Heywood delivered a two-run single with two outs, scoring Hoffman and Mehl to give the Dutchwomen a five-run lead.

Samantha Chevalier drove in Union’s sixth run of the game with an RBI single to shortstop, scoring Noall, who led off the top of the seventh inning with a single to center field.

The Oswego State offense was stagnant for most of the game, registering just two hits and leaving five runners on base. The Lakers were held hitless until the third inning when junior Shannon Baker led off the bottom of the inning with a single to left field. Baker would be thrown out at second base on a fielder’s choice to Union’s starting pitcher Alyssa Wolejko. Sophomore Sue Schoff had the other hit for the Lakers, singling to shortstop in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Noall, Hoffman and Heywood each recorded two hits and Heywood also drove in two RBIs to lead the Union offense.

Thayer took the loss on the mound for the Lakers, pitching five innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits. Thayer struck out two and walked two to drop to 2-8 on the season. Freshman Morgan Lavner relieved Thayer in the top of the sixth inning, allowing one run on three hits.

Wolejko pitched a complete game two-hitter, earning her fifth win this season. She struck out 10 Laker batters, walking only two.

Hoffman delivered what proved to be the game-winning RBI on a groundout to second base in the top of the eighth that scored Noall from third to complete the sweep of the Lakers in Game 2.

Noall doubled with one out in the top of the eighth and advanced to third on the throw. Mehl singled with a bunt and advanced to second. Hoffman then grounded out to second to take the lead.

Wolejko retired the Lakers in order in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn her second win in as many games. Wolejko relieved starting pitcher Amanda Blake with one out in the bottom of the seventh and did not allow a Laker batter to reach base.

Oswego State freshman Jessica Palmitesso earned the start for the Lakers, pitching all seven innings. Palmitesso surrendered six runs on 11 hits, striking out eight and walking five.

The Lakers (6-24 overall) held a 2-1 lead after the third inning before allowing Union to score three runs in the top of the fourth. Blake led off the inning with a double to right field and came around to score on Heywood’s RBI single. Jones and Noall each added RBI groundouts to give the Dutchwomen a 4-2 lead.

Oswego State managed to get one run back in the bottom of the fourth inning when freshman Sammie Schroeter scored on a bunt single from freshman Katie Bredin.

Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lakers fought back to tie the game with two runs. Baker and Kahn each singled and advanced a base when junior Beth Jerome flied out to right field. Bredin tied the game with a two-run single to center field with one out.

Heywood led Union’s offense with three hits, two RBIs and one run scored. Hoffman, Blake and Aimee Palleschi each recorded two hits.

Bredin fueled the Laker offense with three hits and three RBIs. Apps contributed two hits and a run scored.

The Lakers close out their schedule with road games against SUNY Potsdam on Friday, April 29, and SUNY Plattsburgh on Saturday, April 30.